I would support the idea of a dog park, but not on public lands. Sorry, but there are so few quality spaces left for the humans on this island that until those are top-notch, and currently they’re not, then I for one couldn’t fathom spending public funds on a dog park.

My child got really frightened by a ‘friendly’ dog, who ran at him and licked his face, wouldn’t leave him alone- and the owners who caught up a couple minutes later responded with, ‘He’s just kissing you, see, he’s friendly!’ My eye- that’s not at all what it seemed like to my two-year-old. They called and called their dog, who didn’t let up, and didn’t pay them the least mind, and I had to scoop up my kid, the dog wouldn’t leave us alone…sorry, we have had dogs for years, and that was totally unacceptable. I think you would have to have proof of training before you opened such a park. Can you imagine the melee if a bunch of dogs got into a fray with one another?? I just think here, with the general lack of personal responsibility that runs rampant, a dog park is just asking for heartache and lawsuits. Good luck with that…

Aaaand…I’ll say it again. People buy dogs that they can’t reasonably keep on their own property, which SHOULD be seen as animal abuse, hence the perceived need by some morons to allow them ‘off-leash’ time in public spaces. My friend’s corgis play fetch just fine in her small yard and her cozy little home. She always walks them, and they’re quite happy little things. They go with her everywhere, but NEVER off the lead except on their property. No reason to deprive a dog of a fun time IF you have chosen your breed wisely!!! On the other hand, a dog can get all the exercise it needs ON a leash!! It’s fun for you and your dog to have off-leash time, but it really isn’t usually fun for the other users of the park. Good luck with the dog park, but it will not be without massive public protest at least from me if it’s done with Government funds on Government property in these most difficult economic times.

Leashes aren’t a ‘punishment’ for your dog, they’re there for not only the safety of others but for your dog as well. I’m a dog lover too, but when the quality of experience in a public park is diminished because some people value dogs’ ability to run off-leash more than the safety and well-being of the humans in a community, it’s time to re-think policy and reinforce what already exists. If you own a dog that ‘needs’ that level of exercise, then you need to have that size of property for the dog, or restrict it only to places where dogs are allowed off-leash. I can’t say it enough- too many people buy dogs that appeal to their sense of style or vanity rather than basing their selection on what kind of dog suits their lifestyle and home!!! Bravo, Parks, for the reminder.